Welcome to the UK Breast Cancer Research Symposium

Breast Cancer Now’s first ever UK Breast Cancer Research Symposium is happening this week on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Read on to find out what will be discussed by a host of international scientists and patients at this exciting event.

Lynne Berry, Chair of Trustees at Breast Cancer Now talks to researchers

The sun is finally shining in London and as Londoners head to the park, over 220 speakers and delegates from 11 countries will be heading to the UK Breast Cancer Research Symposium to discuss the latest progress in breast cancer research.

The Symposium

The symposium will be focussing on how to turn lab research into real progress for patients, what’s known as translational research. This is often a step that throws up unexpected challenges, so when, last year, some of the most distinguished scientists and clinicians working in the UK told us that organising a conference on breast cancer research would help them to speed up progress, we listened carefully and took action - the first UK Breast Cancer Research Symposium was born.

Bright minds

With this new symposium, we’re getting the brightest minds in breast cancer together under one roof, where they’ll share what they know, battle out differences of opinion, and scan the horizon for promising new research directions.

World-renowned breast cancer experts will be presenting on disciplines as diverse as immunology, genetics and 3D tissue modelling. From Professor Sir Mike Stratton’s first plenary talk to Dr Dennis Slamon’s concluding remarks, the programme is filled with cutting-edge talks and insightful debate on how to tackle the most difficult challenges in breast cancer research today.

Patient perspectives

Importantly, the symposium will also give voice to the patient perspective. Women and men living with the disease are at the heart of our work and we are pleased that a number of patients will be attending the conference to shape discussions and debate around the critical issues facing people with breast cancer right now.

Follow our updates

To keep up with the action as it unfolds be sure to look out for our tweets from the conference using #UKBCRS2016. We will also be reporting on the symposium highlights early next week with blogs and videos from both days of the symposium.

About the author

Katie Goates is a Senior Research Communications Officer at Breast Cancer Now.

Finding inspiration whilst working in a cancer centre, she completed a Masters in Science Communication and is passionate about explaining how research is moving knowledge and treatment forward.

The Research Communications team keeps our supporters and the public up to date with the exciting progress our scientists are making against breast cancer, as well as research news from around the world.